Tea Area students win Fronius Welder and reign as Welding Competition Champions for the fourth year

Tea Area students showcased their welding skills during the Welding Invitational at DeGeest Corporation on May 8, 2024, winning with the most overall points bringing back a Fronius Transteel 2200 Mig/Stick Welder, wire, tools, weld helmets and jackets, valued at over $2,500, for the school welding program.

The competition was between 27 students from three participating schools bringing out the very best young welding talent in the area. This is the fourth year that Tea Area has won the competition.

“Word about this event has spread so we’ve made some changes to it in order to allow more schools to participate,” said Derek DeGeest, President of DeGeest Corporation. “In the past it was always a showdown between Harrisburg and Tea. This year, we turned it into an Invitational format and expanded it to include the Sioux Falls CTE Academy welding program.” 

Scores were based on the quality of weld and placement of parts. The competition was judged by Guest Certified Weld Instructors along with experienced welders from DeGeest. 

Tea Area student winners included:

1st Place - Avery Moran 

2nd Place - Ethan DeGeest

Gavin Van Emmerik, Student Showcase Winner

“This offers a real-world experience for students and they have a chance to weld in an industry environment,” Tea Area welding instructor, Todd Gannon. “Students get a close-up look at automation and robotics. And I love that the parents get to watch the kids!”

The event is part of DeGeest’s commitment to supporting area welding programs and encouraging students to choose rewarding careers in manufacturing.